{"id":266766,"date":"2026-10-10T13:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T13:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/10\/joe-cole-says-leeds-star-frightened-arsenal-like-nobody-else-in-his-position\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T13:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T13:51:11","slug":"joe-cole-says-leeds-star-frightened-arsenal-like-nobody-else-in-his-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/10\/joe-cole-says-leeds-star-frightened-arsenal-like-nobody-else-in-his-position\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Cole says Leeds star frightened Arsenal like nobody else in his position"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Leeds<\/a> suffered their first Premier League<\/a> defeat of the season as Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Farke<\/a>\u2019s men left north London empty-handed, but this was a much stronger display than the final result might suggest. Leeds were organised, aggressive and carried a genuine threat against the champions.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Ed Sykes<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Arsenal controlled more of the ball in the first half, although Leeds created the clearer openings.<\/p>\n

Noah Okafor had an early effort deflected wide before Anton Stach saw a volley accidentally blocked by team-mate Jayden Bogle.<\/p>\n

Bogle then forced David Raya into action, while Ethan Ampadu tested the Arsenal goalkeeper with an ambitious header. Gabriel Gudmundsson came even closer shortly before the interval, drawing a fine save from a tight angle.<\/p>\n

The Whites maintained that momentum after the restart and deservedly took the lead in the 55th minute.<\/p>\n

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Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United Match stats<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Arsenal<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Leeds<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Possession<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

60%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

40%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total shots<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shots on target<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shots off target<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shots blocked<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Corners<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

378<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Pass accuracy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

86%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

81%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Saves<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Successful tackles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Interceptions<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Crosses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Fouls committed<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Yellow cards<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Red cards<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Offsides<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Gudmundsson reached the byline and cut the ball back for James Justin, who drove his finish through a crowded penalty area.<\/p>\n

Leeds nearly struck again moments later. Dominic Calvert-Lewin protected possession superbly and released Bogle, whose dangerous low cross narrowly escaped Okafor in front of goal.<\/p>\n

That miss proved costly. Noni Madueke crossed towards the far post, Ben White returned the ball into the middle and Riccardo Calafiori beat James Trafford in the 62nd minute.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta then made three changes and one of his substitutes quickly decided the game.<\/p>\n

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\"Mikel-Arteta-Arsenal\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/David Klein<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Bruno Guimar\u00e3es arrived on the edge of the box to complete a slick Arsenal move with a low finish 20 minutes from full-time.<\/p>\n

Farke introduced Harry Wilson, Brenden Aaronson and Lukas Nmecha as Leeds searched for a response. Arsenal had chances to add a third, however, and held on despite some late pressure from the visitors.<\/p>\n

The defeat ended Leeds\u2019 unbeaten league start, but Calvert-Lewin gave them one major reason to remain encouraged.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Joe Cole makes rare Arsenal admission after Dominic Calvert-Lewin display for Leeds<\/strong>
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\"calvert-lewin-forest-leeds\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/David Klein<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The striker didn’t score, yet he gave Gabriel and Ezri Konsa a far more difficult afternoon than most visiting forwards manage at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

He battled for direct passes, protected the ball and allowed those around him to push higher up the pitch.<\/p>\n

Watching for TNT Sports<\/a>, Joe Cole was struck by the problems Calvert-Lewin caused, saying no other striker causes Arteta’s side that many problems.<\/p>\n

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\u201cDominic Calvert-Lewin is unnerving the back four of Arsenal,” said Cole.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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“I don’t think we ever really see a centre-forward do this to an Arsenal back line.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

That assessment captured the importance of his display.<\/p>\n

Calvert-Lewin didn’t require a stream of chances to affect the game, and his physical presence gave Leeds a route through Arsenal\u2019s pressure and helped bring Okafor, Gudmundsson and Bogle into dangerous areas.<\/p>\n

The former Everton striker also stopped Arsenal\u2019s defenders from dominating every long ball.<\/p>\n

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\"dominic-calvert-lewin-leeds-palace\"\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Ed Sykes<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Even when he couldn’t retain possession, he forced them into genuine contests, and prevented the hosts from stepping forward without resistance.<\/p>\n

Leeds ultimately lost during a ruthless eight-minute spell, but Arsenal definitely didn’t control them throughout.<\/p>\n

Farke will be frustrated that such a bold performance produced nothing, especially after his side had earned the lead, but if Calvert-Lewin continues to trouble elite defenders in this fashion, Leeds will cause plenty of problems this season.<\/p>\n

The points stayed in London, but the centre-forward showed why he can become such an important figure for Farke.<\/p>\n